“Shit happens! Career Fails from Mainfranken” enthralls with honest stories and a packed house

Region Mainfranken GmbH and the Center for Digital Innovations Mainfranken (ZDI) look back on a successful event: On November 27, 2025, over 140 guests attended their joint event at Mozartareal Würzburg to experience genuine stories about failure, detours, and courageous new beginnings at “Shit happens! Career Fails from Mainfranken”.

Honest Insights Instead of Polished Careers

The speakers from business, the startup scene, culture, and science took the audience on very personal journeys: from professional crash landings and unexpected turns to comeback moments that inspire courage. It quickly became clear: failure is not the opposite of success – but an important part of it. Anne Pfrenzinger, project manager at Region Mainfranken GmbH, emphasizes: “Our region is full of talents who not only have successes to show for but also tough phases. It’s not about not making mistakes, but about getting back up with courage and perseverance. Sharing this openness with each other creates connection and strengthens our regional innovation and work culture.”

A Format That Inspires Courage

The guests were enthusiastic about the mix of humor, vulnerability, and powerful messages — but above all, all stories showed: I am not alone with the challenges; many others have experienced similar situations and learned from them. The stories ranged from missed opportunities and wrong decisions to professional crises that ultimately led to new career paths. The authentic exchange was particularly praised – completely without filters and perfectionism.

The event kicked off with Maggie Messer, a social media creator who reaches a large community with her humorous, honest, and often taboo-breaking perspective on personal and social issues. As a photographer, she had already faced stars like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Mario Götze. But in 2018, the crash came: financial ruin, tax debts, a blocked account – and finally, a return to her parents’ home. This evening, too, she shared her personal experiences and setbacks, entirely under the motto “We show how to fall, get up, and do it better!” and provided entertaining insights from her interviews with well-known personalities from her YouTube and podcast format “Failing for Beginners.”

The Janz brothers provided many laughs with the founding story of Rhönmomente GmbH and their first encounters with their alpacas, while Marion Sokol-Reinhart emotionally touched the audience with her personal setback in a large international corporation, and Mustafa Kemal Özdemir captivated the audience with his authentic and humorous style. Prof. Dr. Martin-Niels Däfler complemented the presentations with his contribution on the topic of “Optimism”: For those who learn from mistakes, even misfortune can turn into personal happiness – accepting and reflecting on mistakes is essential for one’s own growth. Many other speakers from the region shared their personal stories that evening and thus motivated the guests.

Lively Networking at the Get-together

Afterward, participants used the get-together with snacks and drinks for exchanging experiences and networking. Information booths on further education, career paths, and professional reorientation were heavily utilized.

Strong Signal for the Region

With this event, Region Mainfranken GmbH sends a strong signal for a modern work culture in which mistakes are not concealed, but understood as learning opportunities.

The format “Shit happens! Career Fails from Mainfranken” is scheduled to take place regularly in the future.